There is more to the brush than you might think. Believe it or not, the quality of the shaving brush matters to ensure that your shave is the smoothest shave ever.

Once upon a time, a shaving brush was critical to a shaving kit because the brush was responsible for working the soap into a lather that would be spread across a man’s face.

Nowadays, they’re just not as popular anymore. Recently, though, these types of shaving necessities of yesteryear have seen a resurgence in use. There are several types of brushes out on the market today, but how do you know what to choose?

The Best Shaving Brush

Selecting the best shaving brush is dependent on what you like or what your preference might be regarding lather and brush.

You’ll find brushes that are made from natural hair like a badger brush as well as synthetic hair. It might even interest you to know that there are different grades and qualities of hair under each type of hair you’ll find in a shaving brush.

The gold standard for the best brushes around are the silvertip badger brushes. While these are the most can be the most expensive brushes, you can still find a quality badger brush for between $20-$30 on Amazon.

As far as hair grades go, higher quality means softer brushes that hold onto plenty of water and shave lather.

The Synthetic

While it isn’t precisely a badger brush, the synthetic brush is a great place to start if you’re not really sure where to go or you’re new to wet shaving. These are hypoallergenic, too.

Synthetic brushes tend to run a wide range of prices, but the more expensive ones can feel like natural hair brushes even when they’re not. Read reviews and do your research before selecting one of these.

The Boar Hair

These shaving brushes are the stiffest brush available but are also very inexpensive. They do not typically feel very soft without a long soaking time, but they make great travel companions since losing or damaging one probably won’t set you back more than around $10 if even that.

Don’t let the names fool you. A best badger brush is typically third down on the list for softness and durability. Pure badger brushes rank even lower than that, coming in at the lowest performance as well as price.

On the bright side, they are still softer than boar brushes, and they can still whip up an excellent lather while being absorbent.

The Super Badger

A super badger brush is second best and can be found for a reasonable price on Amazon as well. With correct caring, you can expect a super badger brush to last you for at least a good ten years or more. The hair is also similar to top quality badger brushes, but generally cost less, so a better price for higher quality.

The Silvertip Badger

The silvertip badger brush is the cream of the crop when it comes to badger brushes. It is not unheard of to find a silvertip brush that runs more than $150, but they can last for next to forever. These are the brushes you probably imagine when you think of a classic wet shaving kit – silver tips with black bottoms. They also feel fantastic on your face.

Taking Care of Your Shaving Brush

Protect your brush by doing a few things regularly like washing it with a shampoo and conditioner. Yes, seriously. It is made of hair and needs to be cleaned like hair.

If you ever notice your brush is starting to look like a residue is building, you can soak it in a weak vinegar solution to clean it.

Don’t forget to make sure it stays thoroughly dry, too, when you’re done with it. Leave it somewhere with plenty of airflow to make sure your brush doesn’t develop mildew or any other nastiness. Whatever you do, don’t leave it somewhere where it will stay damp.

Remember, when you’re selecting your brush, the type of hair and hair grade are more important than any brand you could buy. Buy something that will feel good and do what you need it to do – you’ll be happier that way.